The following night, 18th September, 10 pm

"Olivia?" the nurse says gently. "Your husband's here."

Olivia lifts her eyes towards the door and spots Trevor standing a little uncertainly just inside the doorway. She smiles at him and it seems that's the only invitation he needs to make his way swiftly to her side.

"Hi," he whispers, grabbing hold of the hand she holds out to him and pressing a kiss to her temple. "I'm sorry I'm so late. What can I do to help?"

"Just be here," she manages to say before the next contraction hits her. She groans from the pain and leans over as she supports herself on the back of a chair. She tries hard to keep her vocal cords relaxed, but it's getting more and more difficult and she can hear herself squeaking.

Trevor watches helplessly as Olivia suffers though it. He wishes there was something he could do to relieve her pain, but he knows it's unavoidable. Olivia has decided that she wants a natural birth with no painkillers and it's his job to support her in her decision. At least this time, she's suffering through something that'll bring a wonderful reward when it's over.

"Trevor," the nurse murmurs to him when the contraction's over. "Liv's having a lot of back pain with the contractions. Would you press hard against her lower back during each one? You're much stronger than I am."

"Of course," he nods, happy to have something to do that'll ease Liv's pain. So taking off his coat, jacket, and tie, he throws them on a nearby chair and moves to stand behind Liv.

Same night, 18th September, 11 pm

"Okay, Olivia," the midwife smiles. "You're ten centimetres dilated; it's time to push with the next contraction."

Olivia nods and grips Trevor's hand tighter.

"You're almost there, Liv," he murmurs near her ear. "Almost there."

Olivia squeezes his hand so tightly that it's painful as the next contraction comes. "Push. That's it," the midwife encourages.

However, despite Olivia's efforts, a few contractions later, the baby still hasn't appeared and she's getting tired.

"Perhaps a different position might help," Dr. Alexiou suggests. She'd come quietly into the room about a minute earlier, and noticing how tired Olivia's getting, she's a little worried. She comes closer and touches Olivia's shoulder gently. "You could try kneeling on all fours, Olivia. Lying on one's back doesn't work for everyone."

She catches Trevor's eye and he nods, turning to Olivia and murmuring, "Come on, Liv. We'll help you."

"I can't any more, Trevor," Olivia moans, pleading with her eyes for him to help her. "I can't."

Trevor notices the worried looks the midwife and doctor exchange at that. Liv's getting tired, and if her baby isn't born soon, they might need to give her a c-section.

"Liv," he says firmly, "look at me." He takes her face in his hands to make sure she's focused on him. "These people here care for you, Liv, but they don't know you. They don't know the vast reserves of strength that you possess. I know you. You are one of the strongest and bravest woman I know. . "Now, come on," he says and helps her up. Then he sits down on the bed and holds her against him as she kneels before him. "Lean on me, Liv," he murmurs into her hair as he wraps his arms around her, supporting her and murmuring words of encouragement.

"I think it would be best if we break the amniotic sac, Olivia," Dr. Alexiou says quietly. "It usually breaks on it's own in the earlier stages of labour, but your baby's is still intact. Breaking it should make it easier for you to push. Is that okay?"

Liv looks at at them, and nods her head in ascent. The two of them have talked about Olivia's labour extensively and Liv trusts them. "Okay," she whispers.

She doesn't feel anything as the midwife inserts her fingers inside her to feel the amniotic sac. The moment she presses against it, however, it burst, and Olivia feels the amniotic fluid gush out of her and with it comes the next contraction, much faster and harder than the rest.

"Push, Olivia," the nurse encourages, but it isn't necessary. The pressure Liv feels inside her is so intense now that she wouldn't have been able to stop herself from pushing even if she'd wanted to.

"The baby's crowning," the midwife says a moment later as Liv pushes as hard as she can. "Come on, Liv. Two more big pushes and it'll be over."

"You hear that?" Trevor whispers in her ear. "You're almost there, Liv, and then you can hold our baby."

The next contraction comes faster this time, but it's the only one that's needed in the end. Olivia pushed hard, bracing herself against Trevor as he murmurs more words of encouragement, and suddenly, it's all over and she feels the pressure release and hears a baby's cry.

"You did it, Liv," the midwife smiles. "It's a girl."

With a sob born of relief, happiness, and exhaustion, Olivia slumps forward, knocking Trevor off balance and making him fall backwards onto the bed with Liv on top of him, still wrapped tightly in his arms. Luckily the hospital bed they're sitting on is in a reclined position, so they didn't end up completely horizontal. He lifts his hand to her face and pushes aside her hair until he can see her eyes. "I knew you could do it," he smiles. "I love you." He kisses her lips gently and looks towards the table where Dr. Alexiou is giving his daughter an Apgar score and the nurses are cleaning her up.

"Is she okay?" Olivia whispers, turning her eyes in the direction of the doctor.

"She's certainly loud," he smiles. "Sit up and we'll see," he encourages. They manage to get back to a sitting position, and Trevor gets off the bed as the nurses help Liv rearrange herself. While Trevor moves over to the table to look at their daughter.

"Is everything all right?" he asks quietly, and at the sound of his voice, the baby stops crying for a moment.

"She's fine," Dr. Alexiou smiles. Then she picks the baby up and carries her over to Olivia. "Here you go, Mum. Your little one is healthy and strong, and is probably wanting her first meal."

Olivia takes her daughter in her arms and smiles down at her in delight. "She's beautiful," she murmurs.

"She is," Dr. Alexiou replies. "You make beautiful babies, Olivia." Then she proceeds to show Olivia how to nurse her newborn.

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